Congo (DRC)

Special Establishment Visa (Visa d'Établissement Spécial)

The Special Establishment Visa (Visa d'Établissement Spécial, VES) is a long-term residence permit granted to foreign investors and promoters of enterprises approved under the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Investment Code. It targets foreign nationals who establish or manage a Congolese legal entity approved by the Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements (ANAPI), allowing them to reside and conduct business in the DRC for 5 to 10 years. The visa is issued by the Direction Générale de Migration (DGM), with prior ANAPI investment approval as a mandatory prerequisite.

• Foreign national who is a promoter or authorized agent (mandataire) of a newly established enterprise approved under the DRC Investment Code
• Enterprise must be constituted as a Congolese legal entity with a minimum investment of USD 200,000 (general regime) or USD 10,000–200,000 (SME regime)
• Enterprise must achieve a minimum 35% value-added rate and commit to environmental protection and personnel training
• Investment must involve creation of a new enterprise or capacity expansion (new equipment, diversification, productivity improvements, or service expansion)
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required — eligibility is based on ANAPI approval of the investment project
• Clean criminal record: certificate of good conduct (certificat de bonne vie et moeurs) less than 3 months old required
• Applicants with criminal records exceeding 3 months imprisonment for immigration-related offences are ineligible

The Investment Code recognizes two regimes:

• General regime: minimum investment of USD 200,000
• SME regime: investment between USD 10,000 and USD 200,000

Approved enterprises receive customs and fiscal benefits during the approved benefit period: exemption from import duties on machinery and equipment, professional income tax exemption, property tax exemption, and VAT exemption on locally sourced equipment. Benefit periods vary by region: 3 years in Region A (Kinshasa), 4 years in Region B (Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, and other major cities), 5 years in Region C (remaining provinces).

For ANAPI investment approval:

• Investment project document following ANAPI's prescribed model
• List of equipment and materials to be imported
• Evidence of legal existence of the company (notarised statutes, RCCM registration number, tax identification number)
• Partnership contracts or other relevant corporate documents
• Payment of ANAPI filing fee (USD 1,000 for general regime; USD 500 for SME projects)

For DGM visa issuance:

• Letter of request addressed to the Director General of DGM
• Copy of the ANAPI investment project approval and inter-ministerial order on registration of the investment
• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
• Four recent passport-sized photographs
• International vaccination card (yellow fever vaccination mandatory)
• Certificate of good conduct (less than 3 months old)
• Certificate of residence from the commune (less than 3 months old)
• Original consular or registration certificate plus copy

The Special Establishment Visa is issued for 5 to 10 years. After the initial period, holders who have maintained 5 years of continuous residence in the DRC may apply for the Permanent Establishment Visa (Visa d'Établissement Permanent), which has indefinite duration. Alternatively, holders may apply for an Ordinary Establishment Visa (3 years, renewable) if they continue commercial activities. Congolese nationality may be pursued after 7 years of continuous residence.

A key benefit of the Special Establishment Visa is exemption from the exit-return visa requirement during the visa's validity period — holders may travel internationally without obtaining a separate exit-return visa.

Foreign spouses and children may obtain dependent establishment visas for the same duration as the principal holder's visa. Each family member staying more than 6 months must obtain their own residence card (USD 250), renewable every 2 years.

ANAPI-approved enterprises receive significant tax benefits during the approved period: exemption from import duties on machinery and equipment; professional income tax exemption; property tax exemption; exemption from ad valorem duty on company formation or capital increases; and VAT exemption on locally sourced equipment and services. After the benefit period expires, standard DRC tax rates apply. Note that salaries paid to expatriates are taxed at a higher rate than those paid to Congolese nationals.

Equipment imported under customs exemptions cannot be sold or transferred within 5 years without ministerial authorization.

The process has two sequential stages:

1. ANAPI investment approval: Submit the investment project to ANAPI's office in Kinshasa-Gombe (crossing of Premier Mall Avenue and Boulevard du 30 Juin, 33C) with required documentation and the filing fee. ANAPI presents the project to the inter-ministerial approval council, which must issue a decision within 30 working days. If no response is given within this period, approval is deemed granted. For foreign investors who need to enter the DRC, ANAPI provides an invitation letter (with applicant names and passport numbers) sent to the relevant DRC embassy to facilitate the initial entry visa.

2. DGM visa issuance: Once the investor is in the DRC with a valid entry visa and ANAPI approval, they submit the establishment visa application to the Direction Générale de Migration in Kinshasa with all required supporting documents. Processing typically takes several weeks.

After establishing residence, holders must register with local authorities and obtain a residence card from their local commune within 6 months, valid for 2 years and renewable (USD 250).

Note: Establishment visas must be processed in person at DGM offices in Kinshasa — they are not available through the DGM's e-visa platform (evisa.gouv.cd), which handles only travel visas.

Establishment visa holders may carry out professional and economic activities throughout the DRC. However, approved enterprises are required to prioritize employment of Congolese nationals. For businesses with more than 100 employees, a minimum percentage of local employees must be maintained. If the managing director is a foreigner, the deputy or secretary general is generally expected to be Congolese.

Note that travel to certain interior provinces (Orientale, Kasaï, Katanga, North Kivu, South Kivu) requires additional government authorization — a sauf-conduit from the Ministry of Interior — regardless of visa status.